Contents

Merit badge requirements

1. Do the following:

a. Show that you know first aid for and how to prevent injuries or illnesses that could occur during climbing activities, including heat and cold reactions, dehydration, stopped breathing, sprains, abrasions, fractures, rope burns, blisters, snakebite, and insect bites or stings.

b. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person.

2. Learn the Leave No Trace principles and Outdoor Code, and explain what they mean.

a. Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.

b. Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.

c. Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any other environmental hazards.

d. Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.

5. Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by each of the following:

a. Climbers

b. Rappellers

c. Belayers

d. Boulderers and their spotters

6. Rope. Do the following:

a. Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.

b. Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.

c. Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.

d. Explain when and how a rope should be retired.

e. Properly coil a rope.

7. Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following knots. Give at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying, climbing, or rappelling.

a. Figure eight on a bight

b. Figure eight follow-through

c. Water knot

d. Double fisherman's knot (grapevine knot)

e. Safety knot

8. Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:

a. Commercially made climbing harness

b. Tied harness

9. Belaying. Do the following:

a. Explain the importance of belaying climbers and rappellers and when it is necessary.

b. Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.

c. Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing wall using a top rope.

10. Climbing. Do the following:

a. Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.

b. Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with a belayer.

11. Rappelling. Do the following:

a. Using a carabiner and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness to a rappel rope.

b. Tie into a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.

c. Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes on a climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer, and demonstrate good rappelling technique.

12. Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.

Source: 2007 Boy Scout Requirements (33215)

Remember that Climbing is a Merit Badge that should be attempted by Older Boys

Notes

Age Appropriate Guideline from Climb on Safely

CUB SCOUTS

• Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult spotters.
(This pertains to climbing on boulders or other steep faces without going more
than a few feet off the ground, protected by spotters rather than a rope belay.)

• Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate
facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

• Climbers will be lowered by a belayer; no rappelling by Cub Scouts.

• No belaying by Cub Scouts.

WEBELOS SCOUTS

• Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained adult
spotters.

• Climbing in a climbing gym or using a portable wall or other age-appropriate
facility with close supervision and age-appropriate instruction and equipment.

• Rappelling with a trained adult belayer.

• No belaying by Webelos Scouts.

BOY SCOUTS AGES 11 TO 12

. Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained spotters.

• Top-rope climbing with trained belayers.

• Rappelling with trained belayers.

• Belaying with supervision and a backup.

OLDER BOY SCOUTS, VARSITY SCOUTS, AND VENTURERS

• Bouldering no higher than the climber’s shoulder height, with trained spotters.

• Top-rope climbing with trained belayers.

• Belaying with supervision.

• Rappelling with trained belayers.

• All council and district climbing must be top-roped.

• Practice lead climbing with a top-rope belay.

• Units with youth who are at least 13 years of age may elect to participate in lead
climbing and/or snow and ice climbing with training from a nationally recognized
organization that trains climbing instructors. BSA climbing directors and
instructors are not trained in lead climbing or snow and ice climbing.

Please note that 10 1/2 year old Boy Scouts are still considered Webelos for Climbing Activities

In 1963 Jim Whittaker Was the first American to summit Mt. Everest. Jim was and Is and Eagle SCout.

Help with these requirements

Read the Merit Badge Book 2006 Edition,

Complete First AId Merit Badge,

Learn your Knots.

All of these should be finished before going to your counselor. The knot tying is time comsuming and a counselor really appreciates a scout that took the time to learn them before taking the MB